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Winds Of Winter (1/2)

This is my entry for @youngmoneymilla 15k challenge (Congrats lady)

Prompt: The Winds of Winter – Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones)

Summary: A stranger from a rival kingdom comes to your throne for a favor. (Fantasy AU)

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Warnings: None in this chapter. Part two is gonna have some war/death and smut.

A/N: You don’t need to have seen Game of Thrones to follow this. It’s not GOT fanfic, just fantasy, but heavily inspired by the mythology.

Words: 3k

The stranger’s footsteps echoed across the throne room and you held your chin high as he approached. Stranger wasn’t the right term, though you’d never set eyes on the man you knew who he was the second his presence was announced.

When he arrived in front of you, his blue eyes scanned your face before he dropped to a knee, the coat and wardrobe he wore not nearly enough to survive the raging winter outside your castle’s door.

“Your majesty,” Steve Rogers began speaking but you felt your jaw tighten at the formal title.

“What do you want?” It wasn’t very regal of you to interrupt but being treated this way by someone whose people referred to you as Queen-of-nothing was almost disrespectful.

“My name is Steven Rogers.” He stood.

“I know who you are.” You gave up trying to hold your tongue. “I didn’t ask your name. I asked what you wanted.”

“You know who I am?” He looked shocked.

“I am well within my rights to have you beheaded for showing your face here. Neither you, nor your people are allowed beyond my gates.” You rolled your shoulders back. “After all, it was your ancestors who banished mine here.”

Steve bit his lip. He was choosing his words wisely.

“The banishment of your family, your people.” He shook his head. “I took no part. I wasn’t born, even a thought yet.”

“Neither were any of the people who reside here.” You rose from your throne. “Yet, we honor the treaty. We do not cross into your lands and you keep out of ours.”

It was a prison of ice. The sentence passed on for your grandfather’s rebellion against the crown. Everyone knew the story. Everyone expected your family to wither and die in the harsh north, but instead you’d survived. Your people tougher, stronger because of it.

“I will ask you one more time before I summon an executioner.” You took a step toward him. “Why are you here?”

“I need your help.” The look of defeat on his face made it clear you were his last choice. “The kingdom is at war, its chaos. My home is occupied by an enemy.”

“Yes, a lesser house than your own. Correct? House Rumlow. I heard they murdered your family in a revolt.” You walked to the window. “And that the crown supports them. Who sits on the throne in the South now? House Romanov? House Stark? House Quill? Or is it House Parker now? I can hardly keep up the way you fight each other.”

“I don’t care about the throne.” Steve’s desperation started to show. “I don’t care about any of that. I care about my people, my lands, the ones I am warden too. Rumlow will see them tortured, murdered with glee. He is dangerous.”

“You say you care nothing about the throne, but who is your allegiance to?” You spun to face him, your sky blue cloak sliding against the stone floor. “Because it certainly is not to me.”

“I understand ancient grudges. But you seem well versed in the present times, more so than expected. My home, the estate of Brooklyn, is the farthest North of the great houses. You think he won’t want to expand his lands? Come for you? Maybe not be as lenient about your spies passing through our towns?” Steve’s voice echoed across the walls.

“You expect this Rumlow to expand into my, what do you Southerners call it, wasteland?” You folded your arms. “What I think, is I should sit it out. Watch all of you destroy each other. Do my part to contribute by ending your life right here.”

“You won’t.” Steve pushed out his chest.

“What has you so sure of that?” You did not like him questioning your authority.

“Because there are rumors of you. The Queen beyond the kingdoms. Who has aided her people, grown them in numbers, united other banished here. Stories of kindness, and love for her people. A stunning beauty who would…”

“STOP!” You held your hand up, not wanting to hear any more flatteries or acknowledge the rush of adrenaline. “I do love my people. I love them so much I will not consider sending them to their deaths for a fight that is not theirs.”

There was only five thousand living under your command, though all were trained fighters and stronger than ten southern. Even the youngest.

“I am not asking for your people’s assistance.” Steve gulped and rang his hands in front of him.

“Oh?” You smirked. “Well I suppose you never answered my original inquiry. What do you want?”

“There’s other rumors.” He glanced around the hall, your guards still at the door. “I saw the red comet in the sky, I remember it vividly. Four years ago.”

“Celestial matters bare no influence on my decisions.” You walked back to your throne.

“I know what that means. Your bloodline, your family. Stories, pictures of what once was. They’ve returned. To you.” Steve kept his eyes on you.

A laugh left your mouth as you sat in the chair and shook your head.

“Whatever you’re implying, you are mistaken.” You leaned back.

“I believe. I believe enough I came here alone, unarmed, knowing fully well you could chop my head off.” Steve took a step forward and your guards reacted.

You held a palm up and shook your head. This man was no threat.

“Because I have faith. I have faith that you are as kind and noble as the rumors say. That something unbelieve, magical is happening in your land, and that you are good and just and will not let any more innocent lives be lost.” Steve dropped down to his knees. “Please. Help me. I have an army of two thousand, going to take on an army double that size. I need you. I will welcome you and your people into my kingdom in return.”

“As a guest?” You rolled your eyes.

“No.” Steve brought his hands in front of him. “As a Queen. I have dropped to my knee twice before you. Once you help us win back Brooklyn, I will do so again. In front of all my people, and recognize you as the one true leader. Then I will help you get what you really want.”

“And what is that?” The promise made your blood pressure rise.

“The throne.” He stood up again. “You are correct in the waring houses. The Kingdom needs unity. The North will support your claim.”

“The North?” You snapped as you stood up from the chair. “You think you’re the North? You know nothing about the dangers my people endure. The harsh conditions. Winter, snow, ice.”

“Then accept my offer.” Steve watched as you walked back toward the window. “Take them to your ancestral home. Away from here.”

“I intend to.” You spun on your heels. “Without your assistance. My original plan still stands. I’m going to let you kill each other. Once you’re all a sea of graveyards we will return home, without shedding a drop of blood.”

“Tomorrow.” Steve’s eyes danced on your face, taking you in, making your skin crawl. “The battle is set for dawn.”

“Tomorrow?” You smiled. “What makes you think for a moment I could assist you in that amount of time. Assembling my troops, readying the horses, making the travel.”

“I’m not asking for your troops.” His eyes flashed. “I believe you will help me. Because you know it is right, and my offer is fair.”

“Trusting your people’s offers is what landed my people here.” Steve started to back away. “I will not make the same mistakes as my ancestors.”

“That is what I am counting on.” He bowed. “Dawn.”

“You will be severely disappointed.” Part of you wanted to chase after the Southerner, enjoying your argument more than you had realized.

“I have faith.” He stood again. “In you.”

The words made you unsettled. So much so that you did not get another word out before he left the throne room. Your guards escorting him out. Maybe you should have decapitated him, it would have aided with the pain in the back of your neck he had caused.

~~

Steve left the stone building and looked behind him. That was their castle, it was barely a quarter the size of his own. The rest of the buildings in the tiny town were made from wood. They looked more like huts than houses.

His eyes scanned the people. They wore rich, heavy furs. Of course, they were for protection from the elements, not fashion statement.

Every one of them stopped what they were doing to gawk at him. His way of dress made him stand out, but that wasn’t it. Steve had always prided himself on being tough, strong like his father. But these people, even the youngest were much stronger, faster, harder.

He saw a little girl no more than ten stare at him, a look on her face angry enough he thought she might try to slit his throat.

None of these people had done anything wrong, none rebelled, none fought wars, but they lived here in the frozen lands because of choices their earlier generations had made. The banishment was meant as an extinction, but somehow by some chance they’d survived.

“Pity I was really hoping the Queen was going to chop your head off.” One of the guards shoved his shoulder as they neared his boat.

“Aye.” The other shoved his back. “This one has some meat on him, would’ve made for a fine stew.”

“Stew?” Steve looked over his shoulder.

Both men started laughing, their shoulders bouncing up and down with each chuckle.

“That’s right pretty boy.” The just got a foot in the boat when hard hands hit his back, his shin caught, and he fell forward into the wood. “We eat each up out here. Raw and bloodied.”

The man flashed his teeth at Steve and made a crunching noise.

“Tell your friends.” The other brought his boot up on the boat and kicked him off into the water. “You pretty Kingdom folk our are favorite dinner guests.”

Both men chuckled as they licked their lips. Steve knew they were joking, or at least hoped as much. He picked up his oar and began to row across the sea.

Soon the village vanished from view. Steve tried not to think about the icy waters below him, the danger in the small boat breaking, drowning into the cold abyss. He knew coming out here was a risk, but he had no other option.

That was his first time seeing the ice-queen. He’d heard her described as exotic, plain, short, tall, feminine, manish, dark, light and every other possible descriptor. Nobody south of here had ever really laid eyes on her. The warring descriptions were an enigma. She was an enigma.

He saw the red comet, he knew what it had meant. Nobody believed him and insisted it was folk lore. But Steve was always a believer.

She may have rolled her eyes, chuckled a little, but she wasn’t on the floor in hysterics at his suggestion. That comet meant something that night.

By the time he reached the other side of the water, the rise in temperature was noticeable. His horse remained untouched. Steve didn’t bother dragging the boat, the weight would slow them down too much and it was still a several hour ride to his encampment.

“I have faith.” He rubbed his horse’s neck as he untied her from the tree. “She will help us.”

~~

“The pansy boy is gone.” Bucky, your guard and second in command came back into the room.

“You’re not really considering giving him aid?” Sam, your guard and third was close behind him. “The nerve of him, walking in here like the two of you are equals.”

“I’m no better than anyone else.” You crossed your arms. “His proposal was interesting.”

“You look beautiful by the way.” Sam looked you up and down. “Like a true queen.”

“It was my mother’s.” You smoothed down the thick light blue gown, the matching cloak over your shoulders. “I should change.”

Your scouts spotted the visitor long before his arrival. You wanted to look the regal part but were much more used to dressing in the same manner as everyone else.

“You should have killed him.” Bucky was never one for pleasantries. “I would’ve done it. Taken his head back to his men myself.”

“We’re not barbarians.” You smiled at your men. “Besides, he let some rumors slip. If we are going to take back the kingdom we may need ally’s.”

“That’s not the plan.” Bucky made a fist. “We let them battle each other. Swoop in and take out the tired victor. It’s days away. All the troops are ready.”

“Did that man strike you as an oppressor?” You walked toward the door. “One who wishes to keep us locked up here?”

“He struck me as desperate.” Sam added. “And a bit delusional.”

When the winter winds hit you, you tightened the cloak. Bucky and Sam walked behind as your greeted a few of your people on your walk.

“You look stunning!” A little girl yelled. “A true queen!”

“Delusional?” You waved and shook some hands. “What makes you say that?”

You arrived at the ice cliff that protected your village from further elements, walking around the edge to the opening in the mountain side.

“The promises he made. Does he really think his people will bend the knee to you? Recognize you as their leader? It would never be that simple.” Sam and Bucky followed you into the darkness of the cave.

“Thor? Loki? Hela?” You walked further. “It’s alright. You can come out now.”

You stopped walking, deep enough it was pitch black.

“No. It wouldn’t.” You sighed. “But he confirmed they know we’re plotting our return.”

The dark began to fade as red filled the area, the crawling almost shaking the mountain.

“I am so sorry you had to hide.” You went toward the giant head, putting your hand on Thor’s nose when he came into view. “It seems more people are aware of your existence than I imagined. But that’s alright. I think it’s time we introduced you three to the world.”

There was a low screech from Hela as a shot of fire came out of her mouth. You saw Bucky and Sam in the glow, getting better at hiding their terror, but not so much you couldn’t see it on their faces.

“Just think.” You walked around to Thor’s back, climbing on board as he dipped his wing. “You two look that scared and they’re on our side. Just imagine what the enemy will face.”

“Scared?” Sam sounded shocked.

“Me? Scared?” Bucky scoffed. “Never.”

“Right.” You leaned down to Thor as he began to crawl forward.

You were certain Steve Rogers was out of view. Thor raced through the cave until the daylight came and then moved to flight. You held on as he took you up, up, up. Loki and Hela right behind you.

Your people were used to seeing the dragons and paid no attention to your little flight.

You’d always planned on taking your them south, but forever envisioned it as a hostile trip. Never once anticipating an invitation, let alone the opportunity to be seen as a savior.

Thor dipped down into an ice cavern, flying along the frozen rivers. Loki and Hela screeched at each other behind you.

The dragons, your people, you, none knew what it felt like to feel warmth surround them. Always living in the snow and ice. You wanted more for them. Maybe Steve Roger’s welcoming was the start.

Thor shot up in the air and you held on tighter, bracing yourself to his back as he flew up the side of a glacier.

Then again, maybe Bucky was right. You were heading down either way. Who was Steve Rogers to deserve your trust?